11.13.2006
"Q" is for Quandary
I'm a dork. I admit it. I've been pining over this:
for a few months. Had to have it. Must get it when my Verizon "new every two" comes up.
So I got it. As Men on Film would say - "H-a-a-a-a-a-ted it!" Two snaps and whistle weren't enough to keep me interested.
It's a funny story, really. I have this hang up about bad customer service. I know, you say, we all do. But I'm reeeeeeaaaalllly anal about it. I have ZERO tolerance for it. I write letters to stores where I don't feel their service is worthy. This comes from the fact that I have worked with the public all my life, in some type of service industry job. HEB, a bowling alley, the mall, and since 1984, banking of some sort. You know, back before computers and email and cell phones, we actually had to meet with people face to face and be nice, because they could see your eyes. :-) I like it a bit better now - I can be making faces or obscene jestures on the phone or when I'm writing the email and they never know! heh heh. But I guess the having to be extra nice in person stuck. (to my customers not my friends you turkeys - no comments!)
Anyway. I get really impatient. So I went on line to order my new Q phone on my new every two year anniversary date. What I thought was going to cost me $99 kept coming in at $199. (I had already called Verizon a few weeks ago to be sure I would get the $99 price, and was assured I would) So... I called "customer service". Nope, sorry, you've been misinformed ma'am. You will have to pay $199 for this phone. ME: "Are you sure? Could you ask a supervisor? Could I speak to a supervisor?" NCS (No Customer Service): "That is what it says right there on our web site. A supervisor cannot change that." I hang up very irritated. I instead order this:
It's free. No extra monthly fees. Similar to the phone I have, just shiny and new. Then I send a professionally nasty email to Verizon. I can't believe I didn't argue more on the phone, but I just get tired of dealing with idiots.
Next day I get a response to my email. Sorry, ma'am, you've been misinformed. You DO get the Q phone for the $99 deal. I responded to that email telling them my order # and that I had already ordered a different one - could I stop it and swap it? I was too late, the order was processed. "Just return the one you don't want, call back, and order the Q." I did just that. So when I called in to order the Q phone, the nice Customer Service rep informs me that not only do I get the Q phone for $99 - I'll get the mail in rebate as well, and it will be FREE! Joy! Except for one thing. I know that is incorrect. I already checked into that as well. Will it ever end?? She stands corrected - I order the phone, and off we go.
Today, I received the Q phone. Played around with it for 2 hours or so. H-a-a-a-a-a-ted it. Called the nice CS folks and told them so. Returned it. Tomorrow I'll be ordering the one I ordered in the first place. I have a wanted poster up in the Verizon break room, I'm sure.
for a few months. Had to have it. Must get it when my Verizon "new every two" comes up.
So I got it. As Men on Film would say - "H-a-a-a-a-a-ted it!" Two snaps and whistle weren't enough to keep me interested.
It's a funny story, really. I have this hang up about bad customer service. I know, you say, we all do. But I'm reeeeeeaaaalllly anal about it. I have ZERO tolerance for it. I write letters to stores where I don't feel their service is worthy. This comes from the fact that I have worked with the public all my life, in some type of service industry job. HEB, a bowling alley, the mall, and since 1984, banking of some sort. You know, back before computers and email and cell phones, we actually had to meet with people face to face and be nice, because they could see your eyes. :-) I like it a bit better now - I can be making faces or obscene jestures on the phone or when I'm writing the email and they never know! heh heh. But I guess the having to be extra nice in person stuck. (to my customers not my friends you turkeys - no comments!)
Anyway. I get really impatient. So I went on line to order my new Q phone on my new every two year anniversary date. What I thought was going to cost me $99 kept coming in at $199. (I had already called Verizon a few weeks ago to be sure I would get the $99 price, and was assured I would) So... I called "customer service". Nope, sorry, you've been misinformed ma'am. You will have to pay $199 for this phone. ME: "Are you sure? Could you ask a supervisor? Could I speak to a supervisor?" NCS (No Customer Service): "That is what it says right there on our web site. A supervisor cannot change that." I hang up very irritated. I instead order this:
It's free. No extra monthly fees. Similar to the phone I have, just shiny and new. Then I send a professionally nasty email to Verizon. I can't believe I didn't argue more on the phone, but I just get tired of dealing with idiots.
Next day I get a response to my email. Sorry, ma'am, you've been misinformed. You DO get the Q phone for the $99 deal. I responded to that email telling them my order # and that I had already ordered a different one - could I stop it and swap it? I was too late, the order was processed. "Just return the one you don't want, call back, and order the Q." I did just that. So when I called in to order the Q phone, the nice Customer Service rep informs me that not only do I get the Q phone for $99 - I'll get the mail in rebate as well, and it will be FREE! Joy! Except for one thing. I know that is incorrect. I already checked into that as well. Will it ever end?? She stands corrected - I order the phone, and off we go.
Today, I received the Q phone. Played around with it for 2 hours or so. H-a-a-a-a-a-ted it. Called the nice CS folks and told them so. Returned it. Tomorrow I'll be ordering the one I ordered in the first place. I have a wanted poster up in the Verizon break room, I'm sure.
# posted by Lisa @ 8:23 PM 
